EPISODE THIRTY FIVE
Theme: Welcome to Nigeria
Arike’s POV
When we finally reached Busayomi’s house, her mom and husband to be were present at the place. I had to carry Iteoluwa inside because she was still asleep.
“Welcome back to Nigeria!” Mr Paul exclaimed as I exchanged pleasantries with him.
“My baby must be really stressed out from the flight.” He added.
“Yes she tends to sleep after a flight.” I smiled.
“Awwnnn...she’s so cute whenever she sleeps too.” He complimented.
“Good afternoon ma.” I greeted Busayomi’s mom, kneeling a bit.
“Arike, how are your parents?” Busayomi’s mom asked.
“They are fine ma
EPISODE THIRTY SIXTheme: Gist LoverARIKE’S POVI began to sing her one of the lullabies the nannies at the home sings to the babies all the time to put them to sleep.You Are My SunshineMy only sunshineYou make me happyWhen skies are greyYou'll never know, dearHow much I love youPlease don't take my sunshine away.”My gaze fell on a black mark on her nose and remembered where I had always seen it.Dayo has the same mark on the same spot. One of the things to prove that she was his child but I didn’t want to think about it right now.“Arike-“ Busayomi stopped halfway when she saw my position.I stood up and faced her. “I was just singing to her.” I said.“Oh! It’s alright.” She shook her head.“Why did you tell me your mom and Mr Paul were at your place?” I ask
EPISODE THIRTY SEVENTheme: The wedding dressesArike’s POVWe woke up as early as six to prepare ourselves for the planned visit to the fashion home to try out the wedding outfits. Busayomi as the bride, Iteoluwa as the little bride and I, the best lady with some other ladies that belonged to the bridal train. After that we would all head down to the dance center to rehearse for the couple entrance show. Everything was planned out by the event planner.“Mommy...” Iteoluwa called.“Come on, it is bad to talk while eating.” I cautioned her.“I am sorry, mommy.” She mumbled before getting back to eat her food.“It’s alright...open your mouth.” She did as instructed and I scooped golden morn into her mouth.“Are we ready?” Busayomi walked in.“Almost ready...”
EPISODE THIRTY EIGHTTheme: Nosy womanARIKE’S POV“Our wife! Our wife!” A lady in her fourties walked into the room.It wasn’t hard to tell that she was Mrs Chidinma, the one Busayomi had given me a full gist on.“Good afternoon ma.” Busayomi greeted.A phone beeped. “Sorry it is mine...oh It is Temitope.” Omolade said.“I hope nothing is wrong.” Busayomi huffed.“I will just go out and talk to her.” Omolade moved out of the room.“Wow! Your dress is beautiful. I hope you like it?” Mrs Chidinma asked.“Oh yes ma and I really appreciate your help.” Busayomi answered.Mrs Chidinma looked at me. “Oh,she is my sister.” Busayomi said.“I am Arike, and this is my daughter, Iteoluwa.” I did a brief introduction.“Oh..I must say you have a beautiful daughter.”
EPISODE THIRTY NINETheme: The singing dollArike’s POV••••SOME DAYS LATER•••••It was a Saturday morning, Iteoluwa had looked forward to this day ever since we got to Nigeria. Our plans was to either watch a movie or buy few things from Shoprite mall, and Iteoluwa had picked going to shoprite so she could buy a singing doll after Busayomi told her about the special pink singing doll that most of the children came to buy the day she went to the mall.Iteoluwa was anxious about the singing doll, she has never had a singing doll except for teddy bears. And it seemed like my baby was obsessed about teddy bears if the word ‘obsessed’ is not too much for her age.“Mom, can we go now?” She asked with excitement clear in her tone.Iteoluwa woke up before anyone else, she had even picked out her outfit and s
EPISODE FOURTYTheme: Lost but foundArike’s POVMy eyes scanned the area and panic set in about two minutes after realizing that my daughter was gone. At first, I told myself that it was no big deal. Iteoluwa was probably over in the children book section checking to see if there would be an interesting princess book or if Barbie collection has been updated.When I got to the book aisle, she wasn’t there so once again I thought she would have wandered to the teddy bear collections. Iteoluwa was a sucker for teddy bears. And when she wasn’t there either, I became concerned.My heartbeat accelerated but I told myself to calm down and not overreact. But I couldn’t calm down, the shoprite mall was big with lot of people in it so I was scared even though I had warned her to never talk to strangers to and stay in one
EPISODE FOURTY ONETheme: I am sorryArike’s POV“Mom meet Mr Bamidele and his son, Adebanjo.” Iteoluwa introducedAnd it was kind of funny because of the way she pronounced their names due to her New York accent. I would have laughed but it wasn’t a good time to joke. All I did was stare at the man standing in front of me.“Arike...” he called out.“Do you know my mom?” Iteoluwa asked.“Yes..Yes..” he closed the gap between us.“Mom is that true?” She asked.My voice failed me as I stared dumbfounded. “Oh my God! Arike it is you.” Bamidele exclaimed.I didn’t think Bamidele was going to be this happy seeing me. I thought he was going to pretend to not know me being that we didn’t end up together the way he had wanted things to go between us.
EPISODE FORTY TWOTheme: My Old friendArike’s POVI came out of the mall to find Iteoluwa conversing with Bamidele and as I watched from afar it seemed like Iteoluwa had known him for a long time the way she was in a deep conversation with him.I walked up to them. “We can go now.” I said.“Mom, where did you go?” She asked.“I just went to say thank you to the man who helped me find you.” I answered.“Okay..it is good to always say thank you anytime someone helps you.” She stated what I have always told her.I reached out to take the nylons but Bamidele gestured to me to carry Banjo from his shoulders and we started off towards the mall exit.“Your daughter said you didn’t come with a car, so I am going to drop you off at your place.” Bamidele said.
EPISODE FORTY FOURTheme: Now or NeverArike’s POVI heaved a sigh of relief when the doll stopped singing. I tried taking the doll from her as Iteoluwa as she lay on the bed, holding the singing doll to her chest but she grumbled in her sleep and held on to the doll. Then I just let her be and covered her and the doll with a duvet.My gaze flickered to the wall clock, the time was 11:35pm, I should be asleep right now because we have a lot to do tomorrow but I wasn’t feeling sleepy and at the same time I was bored.I stared into space as I got lost in thought. My mind reminisce on the coincidental meeting with Bamidele at the mall. I never expected him to be the first person as an old friend that I would see during my stay in Nigeria.Who was I expecting to bump into? Adedayo. It seemed like everyone